Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Accepted
Summarise current and future plans to improve supported housing data, minimising burdens on local authorities.
Conclusion
DLUHC and DWP cannot assess and therefore resolve the problems with supported housing as they have no reliable data about the sector. The data on the sector held by DLUHC and DWP is incomplete and out of date despite the department and its predecessor departments being aware of the issues for many years. They intend to improve their understanding of the sector through the snapshot which will include data on the size and composition of the sector, costs, current and future supply and demand. This will update the last snapshot which was done in 2016. To keep its understanding relevant in the future, DLUHC is relying on the new duties that the Bill imposes to get local authorities to provide it with annual data. These duties include local authorities’ strategic reviews of supported housing which DLUHC expects will help local authorities assess demand and supply. It also expects that local authorities will extract information through the new licensing schemes they can set up for providers of supported housing. There is currently no timetable for the local housing strategies to be completed and as the licensing schemes are not mandatory, there is a risk that DLUHC’s data will remain inconsistent and incomplete. DWP is also working with local authorities to get a better picture of housing benefit claims for specified housing (a type of supported housing which is paid for with housing benefit). It has given local authorities £4.79 million to review all their existing Housing Benefit claims to identify and record if claims are for specified accommodation and, if so, what type. Recommendation 3: In the Treasury Minute response to this report, DLUHC and DWP should summarise what they are currently doing, along with plans for future work, to radically improve and keep up to date, their data on demand, supply, and costs of supported housing while minimising the burden on local authorities.
Government Response Summary
DLUHC commissioned research for early 2024 publication, while DWP invested in LA IT systems in 2022 and awarded £4.79 million for LAs to review Housing Benefit claims by March 2024, enabling robust data collection from April 2024. New duties under the Act will also contribute to capturing future data, with consultation in early 2024.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. support evidence-based decision making. DLUHC has commissioned research to provide an up-to-date assessment of the sector, which is due to be published in early 2024. Following this, a second research project will set out the benefits and outcomes delivered by supported housing. In 2022, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) made investments to deliver improvements to local authority (LA) IT systems, to accurately record all new Housing Benefit claims. This has substantially improved data quality for new claims. DWP has contacted LAs with lists of incorrectly recorded new claims for them to make necessary changes. DWP has also taken action to improve data on existing claims. LAs have been awarded £4.79 million in additional New Burdens funding to review their Housing Benefit caseload and set the supported housing status accurately. This review is to be completed by 31 March 2024. DWP is monitoring administrative data to identify LAs’ progress with the case review and will continue to do so until March 2024. From April 2024, these changes will ensure DWP has robust data enabling it to quantify the scale and cost of specified accommodation. DWP will continue to monitor new Housing Benefit claims to ensure that data quality is maintained. The Act places new duties on local housing authorities to produce supported housing strategic plans and introduces a licensing regime. These measures will allow DLUHC to capture information on the supply and demand of supported housing and provide a better understanding of the sector. Details will be consulted on in early 2024 and DLUHC will also carry out a New Burdens assessment.